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Take a 90-minute nighttime tour of sites throughout Springfield that are linked to spirited stories about Lincoln’s life and death. Founder Garret Moffett based the tour partly on local lore about Lincoln’s visions and dreams, as well as on reported ghost sightings.

Shop the fine art and ware of artists from around the region. Enjoy a park-like atmosphere on the grounds of this restored Antebellum mansion while perusing artists’ booths. Includes a children’s area, live music, food, and tours of the home as well as a used book sale.

World War II Days includes elaborate and realistic battles complete with tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and exciting pyrotechnic displays. Saturday the battle shows are featured at 1:3 pm and 3:30pm. Sunday the battle time is 2:30 pm. More than 1,200 re-enactors represent the soldiers of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy and Japan. In addition to the action on the battlefields, enjoy the skirmishes in the Village and Woods, demonstrations and displays in the buildings, woods encampments and the ambiance of the beautiful venue. Maps of the event site will be available when visitors arrive.

Bring the family to experience New Salem village after dark. Interpreters in period clothing will welcome you into the reconstructed log homes of the historic village where Abraham Lincoln lived for six years.

Typical autumn life on the 1830s Illinois prairie will be demonstrated. Costumed interpreters will demonstrate daily tasks such as candle dipping, butter churning, soap making, basket making, spinning wool, gardening, natural dyeing, and fishing with nets. Demonstrations of meat smoking will take place in one of the log village's period smokehouses, and wild game cooking will be demonstrated in the log homes. Visitors can step down into the cellar at the tavern to see how fruits and vegetables were preserved during the winter.

Listen to bluegrass and folk music played on traditional instruments as you stroll among the log cabins and garden paths of the reconstructed pioneer village where Abraham Lincoln lived and worked as a young man.

Candle lanterns illuminate the 1830s village while fireplaces entice visitors to step inside many of the log buildings along Main Street during the annual Candlelight Walk at Lincoln's New Salem pioneer village.

Come and see what a typical autumn life was like on the 1830's Illinois prairie. There will be costumed interpreters demonstrating daily tasks such as candle dipping, butter churning, soap making, basket making, spinning wool, gardening, natural dyeing, and fishing with nets. As well as a demonstration of meat smoking that will take place in one of the log village's period smokehouses. Wild game cooking will be demonstrated in the log homes and you are also welcome to step down into the cellar at the tavern to see how fruits and vegetables were preserved during the winter.

Step back in time in an authentically reconstructed fort from the early 1800's. Relive history as settlers, militia, traders and craftsmen gather at Fort LaMotte. Friday is set aside for school children. Saturday and Sunday are open to the public.

"Who's Bad" is the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute band. For the last 10 years, the longest-running and the only one to predate his untimely passing, Who’s Bad has continued to impress fans — all over the world and of all ages.

Start off with a delicious hot lunch at Starved Rock Lodge. Next, board one of our trolleys for a ride through historic downtown Utica and stop at Cattails for shopping. Your trolley will also take you on a relaxing ride to LaSalle where you will board the canal boat. Step back into time with period dressed interpreters on this 1-hour boat ride. There is minimal walking involved in this tour and restrooms are available throughout. For more information or to reserve call 815-220-7386. $39.00 Adult $34.00 children 10 and under. 11:00a.m. every Friday May through October.

Peter Oprisko will delight you with this tribute to the Chairman of the Board! A fresh and unique, ultra-modern salute to Ol' Blue Eyes! This exciting and memorable celebration showcases Sinatra like never before. Enjoy such hits as: New York New York, The Way You Look Tonight, My Way, and many more. 11:30am, $32 includes lunch buffet and show.

Enjoy a tribute to Buddy Holly, Herman’s Hermits and more! Mike Bruccoleri will bring back great memories with Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day, Kind of a Drag and other favorites of that time! Matinee shows include lunch and show at $32.00 a person. Times: 11:30am - 2:45pm. For more information or to book, call 815-220-7386.

Michael St. Angel takes the stage as “The King of Rock and Roll." You can rock to the hits that made Elvis famous such as Jailhouse Rock, Hounddog, Love Me Tender and many more. Keep the spirit of Rockin’ and Rollin’ alive! April 19/Evening; April 20 & 21/Matinees - Matinee shows include lunch and show at $32.00 a person. Evening shows include wine tasting, dinner and show at $37.00 per person. For more information or to book, call 815-220-7386.

Join us for an intimate dinner theater experience in beautiful historic settings while experiencing Lincoln from a whole new perspective - event held on three dates: Aug 29, Sept 19, Oct 3. Savor a delicious period meal. Hear and watch the story of the 1847 Matson Slave Trial unfold. It is one of the top ten trials in Lincoln’s career and one of the top five in Coles County. It is an evening out of the ordinary!

This annual reenactment of late-1700s Illinois life on the frontier prairie features blanket traders, merchants, military units, fife and drum corps, and period-style food from more than 20 vendors. The encampment offers military drills, mock battles, along with story telling and children's activities.

Garrison for the Massiac Marines on Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the fort at Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis. The French and Indian War period living historians will present displays and interpretive programs on celebrating the harvest. At this time of plenty, you will learn about the foods of the period, recipes they used, spices, and how they cooked their food over the fire.

Re-creation of Frontier and Military life of the 18th century nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Lake Lou Yaeger. There will be cannon demonstrations, period food, music and many more historical demonstrations. Located at Picnic Area #4.

Dinner and a Little History: Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard The Swiftwalker

Hubbard was 18 when he arrived in Chicago in October of 1818 as a clerk working in the fur trade. After the fur trade ended in Illinois, Hubbard built the first brick commercial building, opened the first meat packing plant in Chicago, helped create the Chicago Board of Trade and the Union Stockyards. He campaigned for and was later appointed as a commissioner responsible for building the I&M Canal. In his long and active life, Gurdon Hubbard saw Chicago grow from a town of four and a half houses, a fort and a Potawatomi town, to more than a half million people by the time of his death in 1886. Speaker: Gary Mechanic, veteran tour guide and storyteller for Friends of the Chicago Portage will bring his story to life. Reservations required. 5:30pm - 8:00pm, Canal Corridor Association. $24 for CCA members, $29 for non-members.

Feel the excitement, experience the history of two time periods in America, featuring Civil War Battle Reenactments and Pre 1840's Rendezvous. A traveling family circus, period food stands and crafts for sale, fishing contest for children, canoe races on the lake, night firing of cannons and a military ball. A great family outing!